What Can I Do If My Child Was Bitten By a Dog?

By
Dean Law Firm
|January 17, 2018

Dog bites can be not only painful to experience but also very traumatic.
Children who are bitten by dogs often grow up to harbor fear or discomfort
when confronted with dogs, even many years later. A serious dog attack
can even leave disfiguring scars and painful injuries. If your child was
attacked by a dog belonging to another person, it is important to remember
that you can fight for the compensation you need to care for your child’s
physical and emotional
injuries.

First, Seek Medical Care

It is critical that your first step is seeking medical care for your child.
Even small bites can still expose your child to diseases and infections.
If necessary, call for emergency medical care, but you should still visit
urgent care for less serious injuries, just to be safe. By getting medical
care for your child, you will begin a record of their treatment, which
will be used later in your claim.

Find Out Who Owns to Dog & Get Their Information

This can be difficult to do in a public park or busy area, but many dog
attacks to happen in the neighborhood where you live. You may even know
the dog’s owner. If possible, try to get their contact information
as soon as possible. If the dog was being handled by someone who was not
the owner, be sure to get their contact information as well. You should
also try to gather the owner’s homeowner insurance information,
though this can be done later if you have their contact information.

Document the Evidence

Your claim will require you to prove that the dog attacked your child and
that the attack caused the injuries to your child. Photographs are a powerful
form of evidence. You can take pictures of the scene, the dog in question,
your child’s injuries, and other relevant objects or details that
add to your case. Bloodied and torn clothing can be a particularly emotional
image, and can help you to drive home the amount of harm your child suffered
during the attack. You should also talk to witnesses and collect their
contact information. They can help testify about the details of the attack
and identify the dog’s owner or handler.

File a Report with Animal Control

Make a report of the attack to your local animal welfare authority. They
may even be able to provide information about the animal or its owners.
If there have been previous incidents involving the owners or the dog,
request a copy of the report. Your report can serve as further evidence
of the attack and can be used in court to document the attack. Previous
reports against the animal or its owners can further support your claim.
Texas is a “one bite” state, which means owners are not liable
for the first incident with a dog, but they will be held liable for subsequent
attacks. If there are prior records of bites, you can hold the owners
responsible.

Get In Touch with a Dog Bite Attorney

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you prove your case and
fight for the compensation you deserve. When speaking with an attorney
for the first time, be sure to ask them about their experience with dog
bite cases and if they’ve handled similar cases. A well-informed
lawyer can be a powerful advocate in your case and can help you prevail
in your claim.

You will need to demonstrate that your child wasn’t provoking the
dog leading up to the attack. Some courts hold that young children cannot
have intent to provoke the dog or understand how their behavior can lead
to provocations, and thus cannot be held responsible for their actions
in the attack.

At the
Dean Law Firm, our team can help you and your family receive compensation for your child’s
injuries. Our compassionate legal staff understands how frightening this
time can be for your family, and we are committed to providing personalized,
caring client service. Let our experienced Midland
personal injury attorneys help you with every step of your case.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.